Aikya Param

Aikya Param, Patricia Robinson and Dale Wolfe Patricia Robinson, Dale Wolfe and I -- all three students of Sketchbook Skool -- met to sketch together at John Muir House in Martinez.  The property is a small National Park. That seemed very appropriate since Muir is called the Father of our National Parks. It is off the road right in the midst of downtown Martinez. On arrival, I drove right past it and had to turn around and retrace my route. Patricia and I visited for a while and then went inside the house to explore every room up to and including the attic and bell tower.  Bells were rung to call family members and workers back from the fields. There is no bell in the tower now but it does provide a great view of the surrounding area.  The parlor and office are probably the most impressive rooms.  I loved the large iron stove in the kitchen.  Needlepoint of Muir House There is an elevated train track not far from the hous...

I'm rediscovering art: creating it and enjoying it.  It has been an old friend but we became estranged. My mind came up with a question and insisted on an answer like a monkey who has stuck it's little hand in a cage to grab the coconut inside and will not let go.  My monkey mind demanded to know "What is your art FOR?" There is no answer to that question.  NEXT! The rational mind and art have an interesting relationship.  In a way, in my opinion, art opens our minds and awareness to other ways to approach and experience things. Those ways are other than reason and logic.  In creating art, I've found it necessary to put aside concepts of what I'm doing in order to experience whatever it is more directly and wholly and report on it more accurately. My old friend Art and I have been able to reconcile because I signed up for the online program Sketchbook Skool .  It was started by Danny Gregory  who lives in Brook...